Reflections...

"Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart."

--Psalm 37:4

As I read this verse this afternoon, I couldn't help but ask God what these desires are, or are going to be (I don't believe that this verse means that He will grant your every desire--but that He will put desires in your heart)...because this summer, as I began to live for Him more and more, He took so many of my passions and desires away. I know that He will reveal to me in time what desires He has for me--it's just so hard to wait! I must keep delighting myself in Him and in His Will, for only then will He give my heart desires.

But what do I do in the meantime? My passion and excitement for politics is pretty much non-existent--the product of one day this summer. God completely removed it from my life in a matter of minutes. Why? I have no idea--except that right after He changed my heart regarding politics, He began to speak to my heart regarding youth and youth ministry. He reminded me of the experiences I had in Pennsylvania, Glendora, and Northern California...many faces, many memories...and He put a great desire in my heart to work with youth--possibly as a career. A complete change...new desires in my heart...renewed (and greater) passion for youth.

"If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;

though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand."

--Psalm 37:23-24

These past few weeks have been very tough on me...on top of the typical stress from school and emotional issues in my life, I've been going through a spiritual valley, of sorts, where God has been "silent" in my quiet-times, in my times of prayer...He has spoken through sermons, Bible studies, etc., but has not spoken directly to me in quite some time. And I know that is okay--it's just hard. And this verse quietly reminded me today that God is still here, holding my hand. He is preparing the way for me--I just have to follow.

One last reflection:

How can I use my talents and gifts in such a way that they bring glory to God?

Francis Chan reminded us today in chapel that nothing we have is ours...God has entrusted us with HIS resources--breath, life, talents, money, personality--and we are supposed to invest them. Like the parable of the talents--we are not supposed to just bury our gifts, or to use them for ourselves. We need to invest what we have been given, so that these resources can bring God glory.

This is something that I will consider daily--am I using my music for my own pride or for the Lord's glory, since He gave me this wonderful gift and deserves ALL the praise? Am I using my money wisely? Etc.

I am going on an overnight retreat with the women in my church tonight, and I am really looking forward to the fellowship, the learning, and the laughter. I pray that the Lord will continue to teach me what He wants me to learn, no matter where this journey is leading me.

PS--Check out Duane's post today, it is remarkable and so applicable to each of our lives.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by
such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the
sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from
sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
--Hebrews 12:1-3